306 SALMON FISHING. 



too headstrong to be checked as yet; tenfold the strength of 

 that slender tackle might not control him in his first fiery 

 rush. 



" But Jasper, although young in years, was old in the art, 

 and skilful as the craftiest of the gentle craftsmen. He gives 

 him the butt of his rod steadily, trying the strength of his 

 tackle with a delicate and gentle finger, giving him line at every 

 rush, yet firmly, cautiously, feeling his mouth all the while, 

 and moderating his speed even while he yields to his fury. 



" Meanwhile, with the eye of intuition and the nerve of ii'on, 

 he bounds along the difficult shore, he leaps from rock to rock 

 alighting on their slippery tops with the firm agility of the 

 rope-dancer, he splashes knee deep through the slippery shal- 

 lows, keeping his line ever taut, inclining his rod over his 

 shoulder, bearing on his fish ever with a killing pull, steering 

 him clear of every rock or stump against which he would fain 

 smash the tackle, and landing him at length in a fine open 

 roomy pool, at the foot of a long stretch of white and foamy 

 rapids, down which he has just piloted him with the eye of 

 faith, and the foot of instinct. 



" And now the great Salmon has turned sulky ; like a piece 

 of lead he has sunk to the bottom of the deep black pool, and 

 lies on the gravel bottom in the sullenness of despair. 



" Jasper stooped, gathered up in his left hand a heavy pebble, 

 and pitched it into the pool, as nearly as he could guess to the 

 whereabout of his game — another — and another ! Aha ! that 

 last has roused him. Again he throws himself clear out of 

 water, and again foiled in his attempt to smash the tackle, 

 dashes away down stream impetuous. 



